Well it's easy since it is already done. They just need to duplicate their FaceTime code. Rename it TalkTime, and strip the video layer, leaving only the audio.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AT&T CEO's "Only Regret" is Offering Unlimited Data Packages
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Well it's easy since it is already done. They just need to duplicate their FaceTime code. Rename it TalkTime, and strip the video layer, leaving only the audio.
That interferes with their revenue stream! And yet people claim they aren't crippling technology. The only tech they want to allow is what they can charge you for, regardless if your hardware can do it for itself.
What??????
Ok, it costs AT&T nothing extra, no matter how much data I use, if it does, then they need to look at their infrastructure badly.
$30 for unlimited data is a rip off to begin with and this guy has the nerve to say that his regret was offering it in the first place? That they should have charged more for the data?
No, I would say reasonable data charges should be around $5 a month for unlimited with no tethering and around $15 a month for unlimited with tethering.
In all honesty, I think Apple had the right idea when they started to essentially use WiFi to bypass the wireless carriers completely, unfortunately it wasn't viable at the time; however, I think it would be now.
If they did this, they could truly disrupt the cellular market in a way that would forever change everything, which is truly what is needed.
Ok, it costs AT&T nothing extra, no matter how much data I use, if it does, then they need to look at their infrastructure badly.
$30 for unlimited data is a rip off to begin with and this guy has the nerve to say that his regret was offering it in the first place? That they should have charged more for the data?
No, I would say reasonable data charges should be around $5 a month for unlimited with no tethering and around $15 a month for unlimited with tethering.
In all honesty, I think Apple had the right idea when they started to essentially use WiFi to bypass the wireless carriers completely, unfortunately it wasn't viable at the time; however, I think it would be now.
If they did this, they could truly disrupt the cellular market in a way that would forever change everything, which is truly what is needed.
Love you fanboy guys. Apple making huge profit margin = GREAT. ATT&T making small profit margin = EVIL.
Paying a one-time premium price for a well-made, futuristic and useful product is not the same as paying out the ass on a monthly basis for inconsistent service, throttled speeds, and limited data.
coming across like an ass, you assume everyone has wifi at home and at work. i don't have it at either place...yet i rack up 5gb+ a month without watching video. everytime i read the news using an app, use dropbox for anything, download and review images for projects i work on, all use data. i adopted early enough on verizon to be granted my unlimited data when i switched from my droid to iphone 4. i expect the company that i contracted with to hold up to their end of the contract, end of story. if a company can't forsee that they may have to upgrade their network, but keep offering unlimited data after they realize it, it's on them.
I can't wait. Then Apple will unlock tethering and FaceTime and every other software limitation that they are imposing because of the subsidies offered by the carriers.
Love you fanboy guys. Apple making huge profit margin = GREAT. ATT&T making small profit margin = EVIL.
It's almost as if you didn't even read the original post
Yep. I do, and the odd time I need to send a SMS, I'm happy to pay the 25cents or whatever it costs for a single text.
Alot of companies for security reasons disable Wi-Fi access, so needing to do something personal or on your mobile device is essential.
Working in a corporate Mac environment without access to Wi-Fi especially doing work remotely from our stations proves to be a pain, this is no one size fits all matter
I don't have a problem with ATT seeking out the most money possible. Every company would do that. Every consumer tries to pay the least amount of money possible. That's how resources get distributed and how the world runs relatively smoothly.
The only thing I really dislike about ATT is the poor customer service on the handful of occasions I've had an issue and needed some help.
Over time, cell phone companies have a business model that is likely going to continue to yield diminishing returns, and they'll probably die off in time. My hope would be that Apple invents some technology that accelerates their death. Facetime and iMessage are a good start, but maybe they can do more.
Heck, Apple has enough money to fund their own space program, launch communications satellites, and maybe invent some new technologies that would eliminate the need for traditional cell phones, so maybe we'll see that someday.
The only thing I really dislike about ATT is the poor customer service on the handful of occasions I've had an issue and needed some help.
Over time, cell phone companies have a business model that is likely going to continue to yield diminishing returns, and they'll probably die off in time. My hope would be that Apple invents some technology that accelerates their death. Facetime and iMessage are a good start, but maybe they can do more.
Heck, Apple has enough money to fund their own space program, launch communications satellites, and maybe invent some new technologies that would eliminate the need for traditional cell phones, so maybe we'll see that someday.
At that point the carriers won't give a damn.
Why? Because they won't be eating the subsidy costs.
Their profit margin on each contract will go up significantly.
But the flip side is, you will be paying full retail for the phone.
This is why AT&T probably had no issue with the arrangement at launch.
They didn't have any upfront costs to deal with.
So we go back to the 2007 model.
Stephenson's comments reveal his true "business model": rather than acquire additional market share by making AT&T's service a great value, he regrets not squeezing more money out of his established customer base. He judges profitability by how high the percentage is rather than net dollars. He should apologize for insulting his customers, especially those of us who've been around for years.
What a swinging D**k! I've been "unlimited" ATT but in tracking my usage I never go over 2G in a month so it never mattered. Since they throttle to the point of it being useless should one go over anyway, I don't even get his point, Jacka$$.
When I jumped to the iPad3 I dumped ATT for Verizon with their FREE Personal Hotspot. I guess this dweeb kept to his word at not giving customers anything that adds value like tethering.
I'm so irritated by this, I'm happy I dumped ATT hardlines for Ooma and will be dumping my family's ATT iPhones for Verizon ones in the near future. Who do these guys think they are? Oil Companies???
When I jumped to the iPad3 I dumped ATT for Verizon with their FREE Personal Hotspot. I guess this dweeb kept to his word at not giving customers anything that adds value like tethering.
I'm so irritated by this, I'm happy I dumped ATT hardlines for Ooma and will be dumping my family's ATT iPhones for Verizon ones in the near future. Who do these guys think they are? Oil Companies???
If you think iMessage messed with their text plans, what do you think FaceTime and TalkTime would do to their voice plans? How's that going to help their profit margins?
Thats a point but you need another iDevice at the other end to recieve that call. Its platform dependent.
Dear Mr. Stephenson... BOO BLEEPING WHO
I dont want to hear this jacka$$ say a single word. Use the massive influx of cash that you have gotten since '07 with the iPhone and improve your damn network so you dont have to lay awake at night pondering if I am using 3MB or 3GB you greedy bastard.
I dont want to hear this jacka$$ say a single word. Use the massive influx of cash that you have gotten since '07 with the iPhone and improve your damn network so you dont have to lay awake at night pondering if I am using 3MB or 3GB you greedy bastard.
If they drop the subsidy, it won't matter.
Remember... the iPhone still requires a carrier for service.
The carrier sets the terms and on an unsubsidized handset, they can set them to whatever they like.
Like I said earlier... a popular phone is worth nothing to a carrier if they can't make money off of it.
Read their quarterly financials... they are.
86% of their network is now running on their advanced backhaul.
http://www.att.com/Investor/
Plus AT&T also did something Apple finally realized they need to do... pay their investors a dividend.
AT&T paid out $2.6 billion in dividends this past quarter.
Last edited:
Actually, if they drop the subsidy the device is unlocked, and since you can use an iPad data plan on your iPhone, you can have a data only plan
So you think that because Apple has a lot of money they should do whatever you'd like them to, even if it means buying out anyone they like?